Fixed Mobile Convergence

Consumers increasingly want full a Web experience with the ability to multitask while on the go, and power management and efficiency are very important features to be addressed for mobile devices to perform higher, according Dojun Rhee, vice president of marketing for the System LSI Division at Samsung (News - Alert) Electronics, in a press release.

In this regard, Maxim Integrated Products, a publicly traded company that designs, manufactures, and sells high-performance semiconductor products, has rolled-out a new power-management IC (PMIC) solution for Samsung's Exynos 4210 application processor that is used in the development of high-performance handheld systems.

Rhee added, "We believe the coupling of both Exynos 4210 and Maxim's MAX8997 will meet such a demand by delivering optimized system performance for next-generation mobile devices with effective low power consumption."

The new chipset solution, which encompasses Maxim's MAX8997 PMIC and Samsung's application processor, integrates various firmware and circuitry required for managing power delivery as well as battery charging with system logic. This will enable customers to enjoy advanced multimedia functionality on their devices that were developed using Samsung's Exynos 4210 application processor.

According to Maxim, the MAX8997 PMIC is the successor to the MAX8998 PMIC. Powered by Samsung's S5PC110 application processor, the PMIC solution MAX8997 integrates seven highly efficient step-down converters, 21 low-dropout linear regulators (LDOs), battery charger, micro USB interface, real-time clock (RTC) with alarms, tactile-feedback motor driver, camera flash LED driver, 12 general-purpose I/Os (GPIOs), and I2C interface for programming.

In addition, the MAX8997 PMIC solution leverages Maxim's advanced BCDMOS process and cutting-edge technology for higher efficiency and integration than its predecessor. According to Maxim, this technology maximizes battery life as well as helps in developing a slim form-factor phone, in addition to meeting the high performance requirements of Samsung's Exynos 4210 and enhanced graphics processor.

Packaged in a 5.6mm x 5.6mm x 0.4mm (pitch) wafer-level package (WLP), the MAX8997 also includes Maxim's ModelGauge power-management technology (MAX17040--MAX17043), according to the release.

Samsung's Exynos 4210 application processor, which leverages Maxim’s new chipset solution, is based on a 1GHz ARM (News - Alert) CORTEX A9 dual core and Samsung's advanced 45nm low-power process technology. Offering high 3D graphic performance, it features a wide memory bandwidth of 6.4GBps.

The Exynos 4210 application processor also features a rich set of multimedia functions that have been implemented by hardware accelerators, such as a video encoder/decoder that supports 1080p full HD resolution recording and playback at 30 frames per second.

"Today's consumers want thinner smartphones that are always connected, offer richer user experience, and have exceptional battery life," said Chae Lee, vice president of handheld power at Maxim, in a statement. "We worked closely with Samsung's team to develop a highly integrated power-management solution to meet these ambitious expectations."

In the recent news, Maxim announced that it has rolled-out a new step-down converter, MAX8989, which is designed to power PA (power amplifier) modules in mobile phones.